Apres plusieurs circuits en voiture ou à moto dans l'ouest, l'est, le sud et la Route 66, j'aimerais cette année, en juillet ou aout, suivre la côte pacifique nord de Seattle à San Francisco . Malheureusement, je n'ai pas trouvé de post ou de journal de voyage sur cette région.
si quelqu'un parmi vous peut me donner des conseils sur mon itinéraire, je l'en remercie par avance.
Mon projet.
J1 France Seattle
J2 Seattle
J3 Seattle
J4 Seattle à Port Angeles ( Parc Olympic )
J5 port Argeles à Ocean Shores ( Parc Olympic )
J6 Ocean Shores à Mont Rainier
J7 Mont Rainier et Mont St Helens
J8 Mont Rainier à Astoria ( Parc Lewis et Clarck )
J9 Astoria à Portland
J10 Portland
J11 Portland
J12 Portland à Cannon Beach à Newport
J13 Newport à Florence
J14 Florence à Bend
J15 Bend à Crater Lake à Grant Pass
J16 Grant Pass à Redwood National Park
J17 Redwood à Fort Bragg
J18 Fort Bragg à San Francisco
J19 San Francisco
J20 San Francisco retour France
J21 France
J'ai fait arrivée Seattle, Mount Rainier, Mt St Helens, Portland et sa région en juillet 2012. Et Crater Lake, San Francisco en juin 2011. Tu peux consulter mes carnets de voyages sur ce site.
Deux jours complets à Seattle? ça fait peut être un peu beaucoup?
Il me semble que Olympic NP demande plus de temps que ce que tu y consacres.
Mt Rainier et St Helens ne peuvent raisonnablement pas se faire le même jour (J7) surtout que tu retournes dans le secteur du Mt Rainier ensuite?
A Portland tu as un très beau jardin de roses. Et bien sûr les gorges de la Columbia River avec une multitude de chutes d'eau. Un peu plus loin, le Mt Hood.
Je trouve que tu vas un peu vite à Crater Lake (étape à Klamath Falls?) et dans les Redwoods.
Bonjour Itat, je vois que tu es toujours prompt à donner tes conseils, merci.
J'ai prévu 2 jours à Seattle, parce que d'apres les guides touristiques, il y a pas mal à voir et visiter.
Pour Olympic, 2 jours uniquement car nous ne sommes pas de grands randonneurs ( j'ai 72 ans ).
On se contentera des differents points du vue en voiture.
Pour le Mt Rainier, idem. Le 2eme jour visite Mt St Helens et retour.
Je me pose la question, est ce interessant d'aller à Astoria ou plutôt privilégier les chutes à coté de Portland ?
L étape Bend Crater Lake Grant Pass fait 325 kms, je pensais avoir le temps de visiter Crater Lake.
Le lendemain, il n'y a que 132 kms pour rejoindre Redwood, d'ou possibilité de visiter.
Je ne passe que 2 nuits à San Francisco, car je l'ai visité 4 fois.
En fait je dispose de plus de 21 jours. Quel serait ton circuits ?
Peut tu me donner les liens de tes carnets pour cette destination ?
Merci.
Je n'avais pas regardé ton profil et ne savais pas que tu n'étais pas randonneur 😉. Bon donc je nuance mes propos.
Par contre après visite de Mt St Helens pourquoi revenir sur tes pas au Mt Rainier? Tu peux loger alentours sans problèmes, ça t'évite des allers et venus.
Astoria je n'y suis pas allé! Les chutes de la Columbia River Gorge fais en quelques unes, après c'est redondant 😉. Quelques trails sont faciles!
Je n'ai pas fait de carnets, mais tu trouveras les photos de mes voyages dans les albums :
- de Seattle au Nord de la Californie : Seattle, Mt Rainier, Mt St Helens, Olympic NP, Columbia River Scenic Bwy, Crater Lake NP, Redwood NP, Eureka, Ferndale, Oregon Coast...
- Oregon et Nord de la Californie : région de Bend : Newberry National Volcanic Monument et Smith Rock SP, Lava Beds NM, Lassen Volcanic NP....
Pour notre 1er voyage, nous avions fait Bend - Grants Pass en prenant la Cascade Lakes Bwy. Ca nous a laissé une petite demi journée pour la visite de Crater Lake. Nous avions fait un peu moins de 500km ce jour-là.
A choisir entre Astoria et la Columbia River Bwy, choisis la Columbia River. Pour certaines cascades ça grimpe un peu, mais c'est des balades de 10minutes.
Merci pour tes observations. Je ne suis pas randonneur mais je marche 8 kms par jour, je pourrais faire les courtes balades.
Je vais modifier mon parcours dans sa partie Mt St Helens et Portland.
On peut tres facilement passer 2 jours agreables a Seattle.
Si je devais choisir entre Multnomah Falls et Astoria, je choisirais Multnomah Falls. Mais j'ai vu les chutes (a peine 30 mn de Portland) en avril quand les chutes sont typiquement plus charges qu'en ete. La meilleure vue des chutes est en bas, donc il n'est pas necessaire de monter la piste raide qui est quand meme belle.
Je crois que j'irais plutot directement de Mt Rainier/Mt St Helens a Portland, et puis aller a la cote d'Oregon apres.
Il faut faire le plein a Eureka avant de continuer au sud parce que presque aucune possibilite exisite avant Fort Bragg. La route au sud de Fort Bragg est tres jolie jusqu'a SF. Fort Bragg est assez moche mais le logement y est moins cher qu'a Mendocino.
bonjour
il y a 2 ans, j'ai fait le voyage SF- Seattle et j'y ai pris beaucoup de plaisir
2 jours à Seattle c'est le minimum car il y a des choses à visiter : la tour Space Needle, on peut y accéder par un monorail, belle vue du haut de la tour sur les îles qui font la ville et quand le temps est bien dégagé vue superbe du Mount Rainier
visite du marché "pike place market" avec arrêt quasi obligatoire devant l'étal de poissons où les vendeurs font leur show
visite du musée de la musique
balade en bateau dans les quartiers des maisons flottantes
j'ai pas eu le temps de faire Olympic
la route 1 qui suit la côte est agréable et on voit de très beaux paysages. les dunes sur 80 kms entre Coos Bay et Florence, superbes dunes recouvertes de végétations c'est la dune du Pyla façon Amérique en beaucoup plus grand évidemment 😉 ensuite des rochers, côte très découpée, superbes couchers de soleil
je n'ai pas fait l'intérieur mais l'Oregon est je pense un état qui mérite vraiment le détour, surtout les chutes de Multnomah et prendre le temps de suivre la Columbia riverEve
Nous avons fait une partie de votre trajet en 2011, notre carnet de voyage est ici http://voyageforum.com/..._san_diego_D4511252/
Contrairement à Itat qui n'aime pas les villes 😉, 2 jours à Seattle seront les bienvenus, c'est une ville bien sympathique !
Bonjour,
Je reviens vers vous pour vous poser quelques questions sur Seattle.
J'ai lu sur votre carnet que vous etes resté 5 jours à Seattle.Pour ma part je n'y séjourne que 2 et sans voiture puisque je récupère le véhicule le jour de mon départ pour Olympic.
Que me conseillez vous de voir en 2 jours, à pied, bus ou métro ? Mon hotel est aux alentours de Space Needle.
En ce qui concerne le ferry pour Bainbridge, doit on réserver ou simple présentation à l'embarcadère ?
Merci par avance.
Je vous repond brievement car je suis en vacances a Amsterdam.
Pour 2 jours, je vous conseille le Pike market avec le lancer de poisson, la Space Needle, le quartier ancien Pioneer Square ou il parait qu il y a une visite underground, la montee au 73 eme etage de l immeuble le plus haut, une balade sur les quais.
Tout ca peut se faire en bus gratuit, il faut demander l emplacement de l arret a l hotel. Une fois au centre ville, tout peut se faire a pied.
S il fait beau un tour en hydravion vaut vraiment la peine avec la vue sur les montagnes.
On n a pas besoin de reserver la traversee pour Bainbridge Island.
Tu as une très belle vue sur Seattle depuis Kerry Park (au nord de la Space Needle - à l'angle de la 2nd Avenue W et W Highland Drive) et c'est gratuit. Par beau temps tu vois le Mt Rainier.
je reviens vers toi pour une petite précision. Mon étape Bend à Grant pass passe par crater lake et Klammath. Qui y a t il à voir à Klammath ?
Je n'ai rien trouvé à ce sujet . Merci
Je confirme les propos de Aquilegia qui s'y connait très bien 😉. C'était juste une étape pour loger, faire quelques courses pour le piquenique et se nourrir 😉
Je n'avais pas regardé ton profil et ne savais pas que tu n'étais pas randonneur 😉. Bon donc je nuance mes propos.
Par contre après visite de Mt St Helens pourquoi revenir sur tes pas au Mt Rainier? Tu peux loger alentours sans problèmes, ça t'évite des allers et venus.
Astoria je n'y suis pas allé! Les chutes de la Columbia River Gorge fais en quelques unes, après c'est redondant 😉. Quelques trails sont faciles!
Bonjour,
je reviens vers toi au sujet de la visite du Mt Ste Helens.
Je pars d'Ashford au Mount Rainier direction Astoria. En cours de route je veux voir le Mt Ste Helens, ( points de vue uniquement, pas de randonnée ).
Quel itineraire me conseilles tu pour en voir un maximum ? Ou se trouve la voiture écrasée des rangers lors de l'éruption ?
Merci de tes conseils .
La voiture écrasée (de mineurs et non de rangers) se trouve du côté Est du parc. Et c'est d'ailleurs le côté que je te conseille, avec le plus de points de vue, le moins de monde et le plus de variété.
D'Ashford tu prends la 7 puis à Morton la 12 et à Randle la 131. A partir de là la Mt St Helens est indiqué, il faudra tourner à droite sur la NF99, route se terminant en cul de sac jusqu'au Windy Ridge Observatory.
Nouvelle sur le forum car premier grand voyage en préparation je commence tout d'abord par une petite présentation Je m'appelle Jessica, je vis à Lyon depuis…
L'été prochain nous partons faire le Nord Est des USA en famille avec notre fils de 16 ans et notre fille de 22 ans qui nous rejoint à Seattle. La première…
Alors voilà que sur un coup de tête, mon amie et moi avons décidé pour nos vacances d'été de prendre l'avion jusqu'à San Francisco, de louer une voiture et de…
Amérique du Nord › États-Unis / Canada · 7 replies
Je souhaite organiser un road trip de 15 jours en juillet 2015 (oui oui dans une grosse année) départ Seattle arriver salt lake sity je souhaite absolument…
Je cherche des idées de circuit en arrivant à Seattle et en repartant de Seattle, bien sûr ce que j'aimerais voir au minimum le parc de Yellowstone, le mont…
Bonjour
Nous arriverons le 21 octobre à Montréal pour y passer 3 jours
Nous allons ensuite à Sherbrooke retrouver notre petite fille qui fait ses études à l université, nous y restons 3 jours et ensuite profitant de sa semaine de relâche nous l embarquons avec nous pour passer 3 jours à Québec.
On a prévu d aller aux chutes de Montmorency et l île d Orléans
J aimerais savoir l itinéraire que vous me recommanderiez pour aller de Sherbrooke à Québec, on aura la journée pour y aller tranquillement
Si après vous avez d autres recommandations je prends aussi
Un peu déçu car j ai appris que les couleurs automnale seraient finies mais pas le choix pour les dates. Merci d avance pour votre retour
Hello! The itinerary is pretty much set for August 2026. Yeah, I know it’s gonna be *super* hot. But it’s the only time we can get away.
So, here’s the plan: Montpellier-CDG-Dallas.
Stay from July 31 to August 26, 2026:
Car rental – check,
Hotels – check,
Itinerary – almost check,
Photo gear – check,
Budget – check, 🤪
Meal planning – meh, we’ll see...
Walmart, of course, for the cooler when we arrive.
And now, without too much detail...
Fort Worth:
The Longhorns and the Stockyards;
JR’s ranch (for the missus);
Medal of Honor Museum – Arlington.
Houston and NASA Space Center:
See the Gulf of Mexico/America.
San Antonio and the missions.
Fort Stockton for an overnight stop.
El Paso via Guadalupe Mountains:
El Paso and White Sands.
Tucson and the Pima Air & Space Museum:
Tombstone, Bisbee.
Phoenix:
Still working on the program.
Sedona:
Round trip around the area via Flagstaff and Williams, or the Grand Canyon (already done) – we’ll decide on the spot.
Albuquerque:
Santa Fe,
Turquoise Trail,
Los Alamos.
Amarillo via Route 66:
Old Route 66 in the city;
Big Texas Ranch Steak 😏.
Dallas:
JFK Museum;
Perot Museum;
West End district.
And through it all – the road, the road, and more road!!!
We’ll adapt day by day based on our mental and physical state (we’re not exactly spring chickens).
Hello everyone,
We’ve planned a trip (retired couple) for late August to the first half of September in Western Canada.
Classic itinerary: arrival in Calgary, Banff, Jasper, Clearwater, Whistler, Vancouver Island, departure from Vancouver.
I know you can’t see into the future any better than I can, so I’m obviously not asking what the wildfire situation will be like in a month...
But if any of you could let me know if, CURRENTLY, there are major difficulties—not just for locals, of course, but for tourists as well?
We’re hesitating between taking the chance or canceling what we still can.
We’re not young anymore and don’t have the flexibility we once did...
A thousand thanks to those of you on the ground or with contacts there who can help us make this decision!
A friend is renting a car for an upcoming trip during the All Saints' holiday.
Nowadays, all rental cars come with GPS, but do you know if you can use it without paying for the GPS rental? I have no idea since I always use my own!
After our first trip as a young couple to the West in 2007 (yes, that doesn’t make us any younger!), we’re planning to go back in 2028, but this time as a family of four! (We have two boys who’ll be 5½ and 13 years old in the summer of 2028.)
Our plan is to combine a few big cities (SF and LA, maybe San Diego) with national parks and state parks, mostly!
Ideally, we’d like to leave at the end of June and head back to France around July 19–20, so we can enjoy the first week of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Since we already did the "loop" in 2007, there are must-see places we absolutely want to revisit—and especially share with our kids: Bryce Canyon, Yosemite, and above all, the Grand Canyon, which is still the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen on Earth!
On the other hand, some places didn’t leave a big impression on us for various reasons, so we’re not making them a priority: Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, for example.
We’re planning ahead, but might as well be smart about it😏
Do you have any tips for a fun and doable itinerary over about 20–25 days with kids, without rushing?
We went as a family to Mount Rushmore in 2023, where my son bought a multi-function pocket knife like the one below with his name engraved—'NOAH'.
Unfortunately, he just lost it, and he was really attached to it. So, if there’s a kind soul passing by Mount Rushmore who could bring one back for me (I’d obviously cover all costs), that would be amazing for my son.
hi everyone
I’m planning a world trip and I’m looking for great tips on accommodation in the United States.
Do you have any good deals to share, please?
thanks
Hello everyone! Really damaged due to flooding caused by runoff after forest fires (a total mess!), does anyone in this friendly forum have any updates on the Apache Trail between Apache Junction and Roosevelt Dam? Is there still a section of the road that’s tough to navigate?
We're leaving at the end of June and will be driving the route between Buffalo and Cody. We’ve already booked our accommodations and a rodeo in Cody, but during the day, we’ll be driving between the two and I’m unsure about the itinerary.
Which route do you think is the most pleasant, interesting, or scenic between:
- The northern route via Highway 14 with Sheridan, Lowell, etc.
- The southern route with Highways 16/20/14, passing by Loaf Mountain Overlook, Powder River Pass, Ten Sleep Canyon...
We’ll be in a car, so we should be able to drive on any road.
Thanks for your input!
I’m almost done planning our September road trip. After our 3-night visit to Sequoia, we’ll have a stopover night in Coalinga (to break up the drive). We’ll be staying two nights in Monterey and would like to stop along the way to visit one side of Pinnacles National Park. We’re torn between the West entrance and the East entrance, and we’d like to do a short hike of no more than 2 hours since we don’t want to arrive too late in Monterey.
This park is split into two distinct zones with no connection between them, and the mileage from Coalinga to Monterey is pretty much the same for both. Which area do you recommend visiting—east or west? And which route is the most scenic?
I’ve spotted two short hikes:
- East: Moses Spring to Rim Trail Loop
- West: Balconies Cliffs Cave Loop
Has anyone been there, or do you have another hike to suggest?
Thanks in advance, and have a great afternoon!
Marcalamar 🙂
Hi everyone! 🙂
Just a quick question about King Canyon and Sequoia National Park.
Before our night in Miramonte, we plan to visit King Canyon. The next stop will be two nights in Three Rivers to explore Sequoia National Park. I wanted to go all the way to Roaring River Falls on the King Canyon Scenic Byway and then turn back to head to Miramonte. Since we’re coming from Oakhurst, Google Maps says it’s 300 km and 5 hours of driving. Since we also want to hike to see the sequoias (Big Stump Area and Grand Grove) before tackling the King Canyon Scenic Byway, the timing’s going to be tight. How far do you recommend going before turning back to miss as few points of interest as possible on the King Canyon Scenic Byway? Thanks for your advice, and have a great evening!
Marcalamar 🙂
Hi everyone!
After years of hoping, waiting, planning, then changing, saving, and searching for the best possible route... we're FINALLY off this summer for a 5-week road trip in the West.
I had planned a trip to Colorado in 2021 but canceled due to COVID, so with time passing and my eldest’s high school graduation approaching fast, I figured it was now or never!
Anyway, the itinerary has been modified and extended to please everyone (I’m no longer the only one making decisions!!)
Here’s our final route:
Day 1 - 7/12/2026 - Brussels / Los Angeles
Day 2 - 7/13/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 3 - 7/14/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 4 - 7/15/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 5 - 7/16/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 6 - 7/17/2026 - Los Angeles / Kingman
Day 7 - 7/18/2026 - Kingman / Grand Canyon
Day 8 - 7/19/2026 - Grand Canyon / Page
Day 9 - 7/20/2026 - Page
Day 10 - 7/21/2026 - Page / Monument Valley
Day 11 - 7/22/2026 - Monument Valley / Durango
Day 12 - 7/23/2026 - Durango
Day 13 - 7/24/2026 - Durango
Day 14 - 7/25/2026 - Durango
Day 15 - 7/26/2026 - Durango / Glenwood Springs
Day 16 - 7/27/2026 - Glenwood Springs
Day 17 - 7/28/2026 - Glenwood Springs / Moab
Day 18 - 7/29/2026 - Moab
Day 19 - 7/30/2026 - Moab
Day 20 - 7/31/2026 - Moab
Day 21 - 8/1/2026 - Moab
Day 22 - 8/2/2026 - Moab / Vernal
Day 23 - 8/3/2026 - Vernal / Grand Teton
Day 24 - 8/4/2026 - Grand Teton
Day 25 - 8/5/2026 - Grand Teton / Cody
Day 26 - 8/6/2026 - Cody / Yellowstone
Day 27 - 8/7/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 28 - 8/8/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 29 - 8/9/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 30 - 8/10/2026 - Yellowstone / Salt Lake City
Day 31 - 8/11/2026 - Salt Lake City / Bryce Canyon
Day 32 - 8/12/2026 - Bryce Canyon / Zion
Day 33 - 8/13/2026 - Zion
Day 34 - 8/14/2026 - Zion
Day 35 - 8/15/2026 - Zion / Las Vegas
Day 36 - 8/16/2026 - Las Vegas
Day 37 - 8/17/2026 - Las Vegas / Los Angeles
Day 38 - 8/18/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 39 - 8/19/2026 - Los Angeles / Brussels
Day 40 - 8/20/2026 - Brussels / Home
We’ll be alternating between house swaps, motels, and campgrounds. I’ve booked all the accommodations (except the campground at Bryce since sunset bookings open only 14 days in advance) and the first activities, as well as the most touristy ones.
I’m currently putting together my day-by-day roadbook and having some trouble planning certain days, like in LA or Las Vegas. Choosing hikes isn’t easy either—it’s tough to decide!
We’re really excited but could definitely use your help with choices and optimizations!!
Hello.
I’d like to travel along I-15N from San Diego to Las Vegas with my mom, who’s 67. We’ve explored Northern California and the California Coast over the past two years and now want to continue through the desert.
There are several attractions along the way:
- Mormon Rocks
- Desert Discovery Center and visit the Old Woman meteorite
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Mojave Desert
- Mojave National Preserve
- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
- Silverwood Lake
My mom has back issues that prevent her from hiking or walking on trails with elevation changes. Is it possible to visit these places by car, or are the routes flat enough?
I’d love for her to experience the desert with an itinerary adapted to her condition. I’m also open to other points of interest that aren’t mentioned. We have 3-4 days for the trip, so we’re not in a rush—just want to explore.
I’d love to take a road trip and visit Nova Scotia. I’d appreciate some info on the best cities to see and the most interesting spots. The trip should last about 10 to 15 days, staying in hotels or motels. Thanks in advance!
We’re being relocated to Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
We’ll be taking the flight from Nantes to Montreal and then from Montreal to Saint Pierre.
Could you recommend a hotel near the departure terminal that allows dogs?
Hi,
My 16-year-old son is flying to Grand Rapids with other kids his age. There’s a layover in Detroit. There’s no unaccompanied minor service available. Is it pretty easy to navigate Detroit Airport to catch the connecting flight to Grand Rapids (domestic flight)? There are several of them who speak English well.
Thanks for your replies,
Good evening, everyone! 🙂
Just a few last questions to wrap up our Lake Tahoe visit plans.
**Parking:**
We’d like to walk to Eagle Falls and then Eagle Lake. I’ve spotted two parking lots that seem close to each other and give access to the trailhead. Where and how do we pay for entry to Emerald Bay State Park and Inspiration Point?
**Viewpoints on the East Side:**
Are most of the viewpoints (Balancing Rock, Granite Cave, Bonsai Rock, etc.) right by the road, or do you have to hike to reach them?
**Donner Memorial State Park:**
Is it worth making a detour to Truckee to visit this park and the Truckee historic downtown?
Hi there. I'm shocked by the price of the Upper Antelope Canyon tour—$175 for less than an hour… You might say, "if you can’t afford it…" But the real question is whether it’s really worth it, because $350 for two makes me feel like I’m getting ripped off. For those who’ve done both Lower and Upper, can you tell me if the price difference is really justified? Thanks
Hi everyone! 🙂
As you can see, we're heading back from September 6th to the 27th.
Everything’s booked for September—flights, accommodations, and the car. As I plan, I’ll be asking the experts for help. This is our second trip to California, but most of the stops are new to us.
We’ll start directly from San Francisco to our first overnight stop, Davis, before heading to Lassen Volcanic Park for 4 nights. Our flight lands at 12:50 PM.
Here’s our itinerary:
Day 1: Davis – overnight stop
Day 2: Red Bluff – exploring Lassen Volcanic Park (scenic drive to Lake Helen)
Day 3: Susanville – scenic drive through the park via the South Entrance, points of interest, and hikes
Day 4: Susanville – Cinder Cone and Painted Dunes hike
Day 5: Susanville – Warner Valley (hikes)
Day 6: South Lake Tahoe
Day 7: South Lake Tahoe
Day 8: Mammoth Lake
Day 9: Mammoth Lake
Day 10: El Portal via Tioga Road
Day 11: El Portal
Day 12: El Portal
Day 13: Oakhurst
Day 14: Miramonte
Day 15: Three Rivers
Day 16: Three Rivers
Day 17: Coalinga
Day 18: Monterey
Day 19: Monterey
Day 20: San Francisco
Day 21: San Francisco
Day 22: Departure
For hikes in Lassen Volcanic Park, I’ve planned:
Bumpass Hell, Cold Boiling Lake (Day 2)
Paradise Meadow (maybe not going all the way), Devastated Area, and the loop around Reflection and Manzanita Lakes (Day 3)
Cinder Cone and Painted Dunes (Day 4)
Devil’s Kitchen and Boiling Spring Lake (Day 5)
I’ve read there are trails to access the trailheads for Cinder Cone (11 km) and Warner Valley. Are these easy trails for an SUV?
Are there any other must-see spots or things we shouldn’t miss?
That’s where I’m at for now. Thanks for your replies, and have a great evening!
Marcalamar 🙂
I’m a total USA addict. I’ve already done several road trips, including the East Coast and West Coast.
I’m here today because I’m planning to go back for another road trip on the West Coast. Possibly with one of my sisters and a couple of friends. It’s still just a plan for now, but I’m working on an itinerary in the meantime. Ideally, I’d leave in 2026, but I don’t have the exact dates yet—maybe April-May or September-October.
My last trip to the West Coast was in September 2014. We went for 2 weeks, but this time it’d be 3 weeks. What made me want to go back was simply a colleague who just left today. As I’m writing this, he’s on the plane. I’m so happy for him, but now all I can think about is going back.
Since I recently went to NY, I noticed that prices have really gone up. I assume the same is true for the West Coast? For 2 people over 3 weeks, what budget should I expect? We’re the type to watch our spending and find great tips.
I think we’ll arrive in San Francisco like the first time and leave from either Los Angeles or Las Vegas.
Thanks for advising me on the booking—should I reserve a room in the hotel or go for a cabin for the best view?
Should I get breakfast or not?
What do you think of the restaurant?
Hello, if the off-the-beaten-path enthusiasts are still around 😉, I’d love some info on tackling these trails. I’m not super familiar with the rules, risks, or what to expect—I’m looking for firsthand experience from folks who’ve done it on their own once or multiple times.
Hi everyone!
I’m planning a week-long family trip to NYC in October 2026. The focus is on museums and soaking up the New York vibe. I’ve been checking Airbnb, but the prices in Manhattan are through the roof. Since I don’t know NYC well, is it "wise" to look outside Manhattan? Any neighborhoods you’d recommend?
After our first trip to the West, we’d love to go back to see other must-see spots!
The stay would be from May 11 to 20, 2026—it’s short, but hey...
M11: Lyon to Las Vegas (overnight in Vegas)
T12: Route 66 – overnight in Grand Canyon (GC)
W13: Visit GC – overnight in Page
Th14: Visit Antelope Canyon / Horseshoe Bend – overnight in Monument Valley (MV)
F15: Visit MV – overnight in Moab
Sa16: Visit Arches / Dead Horse Point – overnight in Bryce
Su17: Visit Bryce – overnight in Zion
M18: Visit Zion / Valley of Fire – overnight in Vegas
Tu19: Return flight
What do you think? Could we add one more night somewhere? We’re not big hikers, so we’ll mostly explore the parks using shuttles.
Also, we’re all set—passports are good. Do you think one classic Visa card and one premium Visa card will be enough for coverage?
Thanks so much for your feedback, and happy holidays!
Hi North America forum crew,
Just a little post that might interest some of you:
Travelers to the United States | Photo Now Mandatory Upon Entry and Exit | La Presse
I assume many of you already know, but the America the Beautiful annual pass, which was $80, will increase to $250 starting January 1, 2026.
So if you're planning to travel before the end of December 2026, it's in your best interest to buy your pass in December 2025, since it will still cost $80 and be valid until the end of December 2026 if you purchase it in December 2025.
This price increase only applies to non-U.S. residents.
Additionally, for those who planned to visit just one park, a $100 surcharge per person will apply to access a list of 11 national parks...
For example, if there are 4 of you in a car, you’ll have to pay $35 + $400,
which comes to $435 to visit one of the 11 parks on the list (I don’t have all of them... Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, etc.).
Total madness.
The goal is to push people who only visit one park into buying the annual pass.
Last point: free entry days are over for non-residents!
Hi everyone, I’m traveling to Los Angeles and would like to rent a vehicle at the airport. However, I have a Boursobank Ultim deferred debit card, so I’d love to know if it’s possible for those who’ve experienced this recently. Thanks for the info!
